Molding clay-pipe couplings



tubes, `and gutters, from clay or agilla- JOSEPH PUTNABI, OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS. i i

MOLDING CLAY-PIPE COUPIINGS.

, Specification of Letters Patent No. 10,911, `dated. May 16, 1854.

To all 'whom z'timay concern a Be it knownwthat I, JOSEPH PUTNAM, of

` Salem, in the county of Essex and Stateo-f Massachusetts have invented a new and useful Improvement in the fManufacture of Couplings for Water-Pipes made of Clay or any other` Plastic Equivalent; and I do here by declare that the same is fully described and represented in` the v following specication and the accompanying drawings, letters,

v gur'es, and references thereof.

Fig. 7 an end view of my "On the seventeenthday of January, A. D. 1827, a patentwas granted to` me, by the Government of the United States,for a new and useful improvement in zmalring pipes,

ceous earth, and on the thirtieth day of September, A D. 1851,A another patent was so granted to me foran improvement iin the manufacture `ofclay pipes.

The main principles ,of malring pipes, `on which my present invention is founded, are set forth and illustrated in the specifications of such patents to which reference" may be hadthe nature of my present invention being especially applicable to the manufacture of couplings for such pipes. p

In order that `thecouplings may be prop- "erly molded, so` that they may `nothave 30 theoretically injurious cracksl or `fissures in them while or after beingbaked and burned, I have adopted a means and process of ac complishing the same, which I shall now proceed to specify.

In Figure 1 of the said drawings, I have represented a top View of my improved coupling mold. .Figl 2 is a side view of it. Fig. 3 is a central, vertical, and longitudinal section, and Fig. A is a central, vertical, and transverse section of it. Fig. 5 is an end view of it. Fig. 6 denotes a side view, and wirel former to be hereinafter described.

The lower part A of themo-ld consists of a block A`of wood or other suitable material groov'ed or hollowed out in a semi-cylindrical form and lined with cloth B, whose edges only are secured to the top of the mold as seen at C, C, in Fig. 1. To the ends of such part A plain boards or ends D, D, are ap plied and confined by screw bolts E, E', such ends D, D, being made to extend up flush with the top of the part `A. Extending across from the board D to the board D and through thecore F G, is a spindle or rod E2, whose outer surface is arranged concentrically` with the curved cylindric concave surface of the block A. This spindle is made to support the core, which is composed of two conical frustra F, G, that extendin 0pposite directions from1 two short cylinders H, I, that are madeto abut against one ani other. The diameter of each of thesecylinders is made to agreewith or be a little less than that of the "external diameter of a clay tube for which the coupling is intended. AThe greater base of eachlof the frustra is to be about oneinch larger indiameterqthan that of the greatest diameter Lof theclay pipe to be inserted in the coupling formed on such frustra.

Against the larger base ofeach frustrum is `placed a semicircular head` piece or board K, whose radius is made equal to that of the external circle of section of the coupling. An elastic or stocking net lcloth cover L is drawn over each` of the frustra, thesamebeing not only for the purpose of preventing adhesion ofthe frustrum to the clay, but of enabling the frustrum` to be `readily withdrawn .from` it after it hasibeen molded. i

The Ahead pieces are `sustained in place againstthe frustra by being made each with a semicircularnotch to straddle the spindle. They are also` held up bymeans of forked pieces N, N, fastened to the end boards D, D',

in the positions as seen in the drawings.

These head pieces not only serve to form the boundaries of the ends of the upper part or half of the coupling, but they serve as guides to enable the molder to form the outside surfacefof the upper part of the coupling, for when the clay is plastered on the frustra he has only to `take a rule or a straight knife or bar and apply it on the curved surfaces of the guides and move it entirely over such top surface. By s-o doing `he can remove the surplus clay and without leaving on that which is left or the molded clay, any indentation or scores such `as would `be left by the employment of a wire gage frame, such as'is described in my said patent of September, 1851.

In making the coupling, the plastic Ina-- `terial is spread over. the inner concave part `of the block Aand to a suflicient extent.

The core is next pressed down upon the plastic material until it becomes concentric with the curved concave surface of the block A. This having been done, more of the plastic material is plastered over the entire `upper surface of the core, `and between the the handle.

cheeks or head pieces, and above the same. The surplus is next to be removed by a rule or knife laid and moved on the cheeks as hereinbefore specified. When this is done, the mold is taken apart and separated from the molded article, the core being removed by drawing its parts out of it in opposite directions. The stocking net covers of the core remaining attached to the couplingy ythe oase may be, a tension wire or blade U` is-fastened and carried back and secured to This latter wire or blade not only serves as a stay to prevent the other wire from being bent out of place while.

being used, but it ser'ves to cut and divide the surplus clay into two portions, so as to enable it to be readily removed from the molded article.

In the use of this instrument it is placed on and made to straddle the clay, when'on vthe core, and is drawn lengthwise over the mold so as. to cause. the wires or blades R and U to pass through the clay and not only separate the surplus portion of it from the rest, but divide it into two parts so as to enable it to be easily removed. Those parts of the molded coupling which are formed by the conic frustra are for the reception of the ends of the consecutive pipes and the packing and cement or molten lead that is usually filled in the joints of a coupling.

I claim-y 1. The manner of making the mold, viz., of a combination of the two conic frustra, and their separation cylinder or cylinders together vand with the concave cylindrical elastic propertiesl of such cover or covers `l enabling them to lit closely to the curved surface of the core without the formation of injurious seams or indentations on the inside surface of the coupling, and besides this the elasticity of the cover or covers vfacilitates the removal of the same fromthe molded article. v f

3. I' also claim the wire former made substantially as specified, viz.,of a curved wire or blade R, the tension stay, and cutter or wire U, and the forked stock or handle, the whole being used in the manner and Vfor the purpose as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereto set my signature this nineteenth day of August A. D. 1853. I y y JOSEPH PUTNAM.

Witnesses DAN WEED, J. F. KIMBALL. 

